Ayun
The Cui family residence.
The Crown Prince rubbed his hands together and paced back and forth in the study: "Chen Li and the others... have already fallen into the hands of Prince Duan."
Prime Minister Cui sat in his armchair, not even lifting his eyelids: "Where are the account books? Have our men found them?"
"The ledger was always in Prince Duan's hands, and later it was handed over directly to Lin Kong." The Crown Prince swallowed hard. "Lin Kong sent a trusted confidant to the capital, and our people... couldn't find an opportunity to strike."
"Fortunately, it wasn't explicitly written in the accounts," the Crown Prince continued. "But if those three people open their mouths after the New Year when they're escorted back to the capital..." Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Cui slammed his hand on the table, making the teacup rattle. "Foolish! Once this matter is exposed, we'll lose everything!"
The crown prince was so frightened that he trembled and didn't dare to utter a sound.
Prime Minister Cui took a breath: "Prince Duan went to the northern border, probably because he had already colluded with the Emperor. We need to find a way to bring him back. The northern border is too far away; our reach can't extend that far. Since the Emperor allowed him to go on a secret investigation, he probably already has suspicions about us. Sending a message to your mother... it seems we need to be prepared."
Inside the small courtyard in the north, however, the scene was quite different.
On New Year's Eve, Qingfeng was busy hanging lanterns, decorating the courtyard in a festive red hue. Lingyuan rolled up his sleeves, personally ground ink and laid out paper, preparing to write Spring Festival couplets.
Yan Shu stood aside watching him wield his brush. With a few strokes, a line of characters appeared on the paper: "Leaving the old year with tranquil joy, we celebrate the new spring with warm feasts." The horizontal inscription read: "May good fortune always be with you."
"Your Highness writes well," Yan Shu praised softly.
Xuan Gui also came over and wrote the character "福" (fortune/blessing) himself. Yan Shu watched them write with ease, each with their own unique style, and sighed inwardly, "They are princes after all, and their upbringing makes a difference."
Qingfeng and Lingying took the written couplets and the character "福" (good fortune) and went outside. After pasting them up, they stepped back a few paces to examine them, both with smiles on their faces.
Yan Shu stood at the entrance of the courtyard, looking at the scene inside. Ling Yuan and Xuan Gui were playing chess in the courtyard, A Yun was busy preparing the New Year's Eve dinner in the kitchen, and Ling Ying and Qing Feng were still adjusting the position of the lanterns.
At this moment, there were no court intrigues, no royal court rules, only the everyday warmth of an ordinary family. Wasn't this the kind of life she wanted?
She walked into the courtyard with a smile and went to Ling Yuan's side to watch the game. She had only learned a little bit about Go after she transmigrated here, but seeing Ling Yuan's brows furrowing more and more, she knew that something was wrong.
Sure enough, Xuan Gui laughed after a short while: "Uncle, you flatter me!"
Ling Yuan stared at the chessboard for a long time, then said defiantly, "Let's play again!"
Yan Shu smiled, turned around and went into the kitchen to help A Yun.
"How's the phoenix crown coming along?" she asked while washing the vegetables.
Ayun's face lit up: "Almost done, just a few more velvet flowers are needed. I was so busy making the wedding dress that I left the phoenix coronet for last."
Seeing the undisguised happiness in her eyes as she spoke of these things, Yan Shu was happy for her too.
Before long, the New Year's Eve dinner table was full, and it was very sumptuous.
Yan Shu could tell from Ling Yuan's expression that he had lost again. Everyone sat together, and Ling Yuan was the first to raise his glass.
"We're all family, it's not easy to get together like this." He glanced at everyone present. "Wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year."
These words, spoken casually, caused everyone to fall silent for a moment. Then, everyone raised their glasses and clinked them together.
"Happy New Year!"
During the meal, Ling Yuan said to Ling Ying, "We can't go back to the capital for the time being, but the house has been prepared, so you can move in as soon as you get back."
Ling Ying and A Yun were about to get up to thank him when Ling Yuan stopped them, saying, "Just have one drink."
Qingfeng chimed in from the side, "Your Highness Prince Chen, what will you give me as a wedding gift?"
Hyun-gyu glanced at him: "Find someone to marry first."
Upon hearing this, everyone at the table burst into laughter, leaving Qingfeng all alone.
Xuan Gui then remembered something and asked Ling Yuan and Yan Shu, "Royal Uncle, Royal Aunt, I'm afraid you won't be able to be there when I get married, will you?"
Ling Yuan and Yan Shu exchanged a glance, both feeling somewhat apologetic.
"I'm afraid we'll miss it," Lingyuan said.
Xuan Gui was quite magnanimous: "It's alright, just make up for it with a big gift for me and Xue'er later!"
The meal transcended the distinction between ruler and subject, leaving only casual conversation among family members. Qingfeng even revealed that Lingyuan had gotten drunk at the Prince Chen's residence and clung to Yan Shu, refusing to let go. Yan Shu also jokingly recounted Lingyuan's feat of almost emptying someone's vegetable stall while shopping.
Ling Yuan listened without getting angry, and occasionally even offered a few words of explanation.
As darkness fell, suddenly a huge firework burst open in the night sky with a loud "boom".
Everyone put down their chopsticks and ran to the courtyard gate. Ling Yuan naturally put his arm around Yan Shu, and Ling Ying also put his arm around A Yun.
Qingfeng looked around and moved closer to Xuan Gui: "Your Highness, why don't you put your arm around me? Or I can put my arm around you?"
Xuan Gui looked disgusted and said, "I have someone to hug me, so I won't hug you."
Both couples couldn't help but laugh when they heard this.
Qingfeng slapped his forehead, ran back into the house and brought out a bunch of fireworks: "I almost forgot! I bought them yesterday!"
He placed the firecrackers far away, lit the fuse, covered his ears, and ran back. Amidst the crackling sounds, everyone's face was filled with smiles.
Ling Yuan handed Yan Shu a few sparklers. Tiny sparks bloomed in her hand, illuminating her smiling eyes.
On New Year's Eve in this small border town, under the fireworks, they temporarily forgot all their worries.
As soon as New Year's Eve was over, preparations for Lingying and Ayun's wedding began in earnest. The date was set for the Lantern Festival, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
Five days before the festival, Lingyuan and Xuangui took Lingying and Qingfeng to the prison in Xiayun City.
In the dark cell, Chen Li and Wang Chong begged for mercy as soon as they saw them, while Qiao Ling remained silent, hanging by chains.
Ling Yuan sat in the chair, looking at Qiao Ling: "Why did you do this? You've already reached the position of deputy general, what more could you want?"
Qiao Ling turned her face away and refused to speak.
Ling Yuan stood up and walked up to him: "It's alright if you don't want to talk. We'll escort you back to the capital tomorrow. Once we get there, we'll find a way to make you talk."
Two nights before the Lantern Festival, everyone in the courtyard was busy.
Ayun suddenly remembered that the velvet flowers on the phoenix crown were still in her room, and she didn't have enough red paper. If she didn't get everything ready tonight, she was afraid it would be too late later.
Ling Ying put down the scissors in her hand, preparing to accompany her.
Qingfeng rubbed his aching wrist and complained, "Let me go with Sister Ayun! My hands are cramping from cutting these 'double happiness' characters. Don't worry, I'll definitely bring Sister Ayun back safely."
Ayun also advised, "The shop that sells red paper is just two streets away from my house, not far."
Ling Ying then nodded.
Qingfeng went to buy red paper and told Ayun to take the velvet flowers and wait where she was, and not to wander off.
Ayun went back inside to get the velvet flowers and put them in her basket, then suddenly remembered that she didn't have enough red silk either. She decided to go find Qingfeng; Xiayun City only had eight streets, it was on her way.
Night had fallen, and the streets were deserted. As A-Yun passed the North City Prison, she glanced at it unintentionally and abruptly stopped in her tracks.
She saw someone who should never be here—Qiao Ling. Wasn't he supposed to have been escorted back to the capital? What was he doing here?
To her even greater surprise, Qiao Ling was bowing respectfully to another figure. The person handed Qiao Ling something, and Qiao Ling turned and hurriedly got into the carriage and left.
And the person standing with their back to the light... A-Yun recognized him too.
Her heart tightened, realizing something was terribly wrong, and she turned to run back.
She had only taken a few steps when the person standing backlit appeared before her. With a swift movement, the knife fell.
The bamboo basket fell to the ground with a clatter, scattering the fluffy flowers everywhere. A-Yun didn't even have time to make a sound before collapsing limply to the ground.
The night wind blew through the empty streets and alleys, leaving only a mess on the ground.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
